Ejector means for a lamp receptacle

ABSTRACT

A LAMP RECEPTACLE FOR USE IN A LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ELONGATED LAMP, THE RECEPTACLE INCLUDING ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS WITHIN THE RECEPTACLE ADAPTED TO CONNECT ONE END OF AN ELONGATED LAMP TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY, AND EJECTOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEPTACLE FOR EJECTING THE ELONGATED LAMP FROM THE RECEPTACLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE LAMP. PREFERABLY, THE LAMP RECEPTACLE INCLUDES A TERMINAL BLOCK HAVING A BODY PORTION AND A LAMP RECEIVING PORTION AND THE BODY PORTION HAS PASSAGE MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE EJECTOR MEANS. IN ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION, SPRING MEANS ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE PASSAGE MEANS FOR BIASING THE EJECTOR MEANS TO A NON-EJECTING POSITION WHILE ALLOWING THE EJECTOR MEANS TO BE MANUALLY OPERATED TO MOVE A FINGER PORTION THEREOF INTO THE LAMP RECEIVING PORTION TO EJECT ONE END OF THE LAMP FROM THE RECEPTACLE. IN ANOTHER PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION, THE PASSAGE MEANS IS PARTIALLY CLOSED OFF AT ONE END BY A PORTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE FINGER PORTION INTO THE LAMP RECEIVING PORTION AND TO ASSIST IN RETAINING THE EJECTOR MEANS IN THE PASSAGE MEANS.

Feb. 23, H. EGE I 4 EJECTOR MEANS FOR A LAMP RECEPTACLE y Filed Dec. 4,1968 u United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 339-45 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A lamp receptacle for use in a lamp socket assembly adaptedto receive an elongated lamp, the receptacle including electricalcontact means within the receptacle adapted to connect one end of anelongatedl lamp to a source of electric energy, and ejector meansassociated with the receptacle for ejecting the elongated lamp from thereceptacle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of thelamp. Preferably, the lamp receptacle includes a terminal block having abody portion and a lamp receiving portion and the body portion haspassage means for receiving the ejector means. In one preferredembodiment of the invention, spring means are provided within thepassage means for biasing the ejector means to a non-ejectingposition'while allowing the ejector means to be manually operated tomove a finger portion thereof into the lamp receiving portion to ejectone end of the lamp from the receptacle. In another preferred embodimentof the invention, the passage means is partially closed ofi at one endby a portion of the electrical contact means to limit movement of thefinger portion into the lamp receiving portion and to assist inretaining the ejector means in the passage means.

BACKGROUND yOF THE INVENTION (l) Field of the invention The field ofthis invention is that of lamp receptacles particularly lamp receptaclesadapted to receive one end of an elongated lamp, such as a fluorescentlamp. The field of this invention is also that of a lamp receptacleadapted to snap iittingly receive one end of an elongated lamp andhaving ejector means associated with the receptacle for ejecting the oneend of the elongated lamp from the receptacle in a direction transverseto the longitudinal axis of the elongated lamp.

(2) Description of the prior art In some prior art lamp socketassemblies, particularly liuorescent lamp fixtures, an elongated lamp isremoved from the lamp receptacle either by pushing the lamp axially intothe receptacle and then rotating the lamp to free it from thereceptacle, or by pulling the end of the lamp directly out of the lampreceptacle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of thelamp. In other prior art lamp socket assemblies, the elongate lamp isrst rotated before being removed from the receptacle in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal axis of the lamp. However, in these priorart lamp receptacles, the means for retaining and releasing theelongated lamp have not always been adequate for a lamp socket assemblywhich is located in a confined area, or otherwise mounted in a mannerwhich makes it difficult to insert and remove the elongated lamp intoand out of the lamp socket assembly.

SUMMARY `OF THE INVENTION In view of the need for means to effect, orassist in effecting, removal of the end portion of an elongated lamp,such as a fluorescent lamp, from a lamp receptacle,

3,566,333 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 I Ce the present invention provides alamp receptacle having ejector means associated therewith for ejectingone end of the elongated lamp from the receptacle in a directiontransverse to the longitudinal axis of the lamp.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the lamp receptacleincludes a terminal block having a lamp receiving portion and a bodyportion which extends from the lamp receiving portion to an end surfaceof the terminal block, the body portion having passage means thereinextending from the end surface to the lamp receiving portion, and thispassage means is adapted to receive the ejector means.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the ejector meansincludes an elongated button portion and a finger portion, the buttonportion having a first end which is received in the passage means and asecond end which extends out of the body portion beyond the end surface,and the finger portion having a first end connected to the lfirst end ofthe button portion and a second end which is adapted to extend into thelamp receiving portion.

In a still further preferred embodiment of the invention, resilientmeans are provided] in the passage means for biasing the ejector meansto a non-ejecting position.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical contactmeans secured in the lamp receiving portion includes a U-shaped springclip member adapted to snap fittingly receive one end of the elongatedlamp with the finger portion of the ejector means adapted to extend intothe lamp receiving portion adjacent the U- shaped clip member to engagethe one end of the lamp to eject the lamp from the lamp receivingportion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of theelongated lamp.

In still another preferred embodiment of the invention the passage meansis partially closed off at one end by a portion of the electricalcontact. means to limit movement of the finger portion into the lampreceiving portion and to assist in retaining the ejector means in thepassage means.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple means for ejectingan end portion of an elongated lamp received in a lamp receptacle fromthe receptacle.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ejector meansassociated with a lamp receptable for ejecting an elongated lamp fromthe receptacle in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of thelamp.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction With theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION `OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa preferred i embodiment of the lamp receptacle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan View of the lamp receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. 2 andshowingone end of a tubular lamp in phantom line; and,

FIG. 4 is a modified version of the ejector means shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 20 .extending fromthe body portion 14 and by an inner end surface 21 of the body portion14. One end cap 22 of an elongated lamp 23 (shown in phantom lines inFIG. 3) is received in the opening 16. It is to be understood that theother end of the lamp (not shown) is received in a similar or identicalreceptacle 10.

Electrical contact means 24 are secured within said opening 16.Preferably, the electrical Contact means include an inverted T-shaped,spring contact member 26 and a generally U-shaped, spring clip member 28as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The cross portion 30 (FIG. 2) of the inverted T-shaped spring contactmember 26 forms a base mounting portion for the spring contact member26. The upright portion 32 of the spring contact member 26 is connectedto, and extends from, the cross portion 30 and is bent over to provide aspring contact 34 for engaging the end cap 22 of the elongated lamp 23,e.g. a fluorescent lamp. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross or base mountingportion 30 is secured to the inner end surface 21 by means of two rivets35 and 36. Preferably, a wire conductor 38 from a source of electricenergy is connected by means of an eyelet type lug 39 to one of therivets, such as to rivet 36 as shown in FIG. 2. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, part of end surface 21 is recessed, as at40 (FIG. 3), to form a channel for receiving and locating the cross orbase portion 30, and for spacing and insulating the cross portion 30from spring clip member 28.

The U-shaped spring clip member 28 comprises a bight portion 41 (FIG. l)and two leg portions 42 and 43. The outer ends 44 and 45 of the legportions 42 and 43 are biased against each other so that leg portions 42and 43 provide resilient means for snap fittingly receiving andelectrically contacting the end portion 22 of the lamp 23. The bightportion 41 is secured t0 the inner end surface 21 of the body portion bya rivet 46 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Preferably, a wire conductor 47from a source of electric energy is connected by means of an eyelet typelug 48 to a rivet 46, and held in place by a staked over end 51 of therivet 46, as shownin FIG. 3. Preferably, the rivets 35, 36 and 46 areshort, and are received through bores formed in the body portion 14.These bores have relatively deep counterbores, such as counterbore 49 ofbore 50 (FIG. 3), whereby the end (or heads) of the rivets 35, 36 and46, such as end 52 of the rivet 46 will be virtually isolated, i.e.insulated, from contact with metal which could cause a short or ground.If desired, an insulating material may be inserted in the counterbore 49(and in similarly formed counterbores provided for rivets 35 and 36) tofurther insulate the end of the rivet 46 (and similarly, the ends ofrivets 35 and 36). Since all the bores and counterbores are formedessentially the same way only one bore 50 and one counterbore 49 areshown in the drawings.

In the embodiment shown, the body portion 14 of terminal block 11 isprovided with passage means 55 which extends from the inner end surface21 of the body portion 14 to the outer end surface 57 of the bodyportion 14. An ejector means 56 is received in the passage means 55.Preferably the ejector means 56 is formed or made of an insulatingmaterial, such as moldable plastic material. A recess 58 is provided inthe body portion 14 and extends from one end 59, opening into the lampreceiving portion 12, to a closed end 60. The closed end 60'is locatedat a point in the body portion 14 which is spaced from the outer endsurface 57. A short, wall portion 61 is defined by, and between, theouter end surface 57 of the body portion and the closed end 60 of therecess 58. Wall portion 61 forms a stop means for limiting the distancewhich the ejector means 56 can extend beyond said end surface and forassisting in retaining the ejector means 6 in the passage means 55, aswill be hereinafter explained.

The ejector means 56 (FIG. 3) includes an elongated button portion 67and a finger portion 69 connected to the button portion 67. One end 70of the button portion 67 is received within the passage means 55 whilethe other end 71 of the button portion 6'7 extends out of the bodyportion 14 beyond the outer end surface 57. One end 72 of the fingerportion 69 which is connected to the one end 70 of the button portion'67 is offset from the one end 70, i.e. the longitudinal axis of thefinger portion 69 is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the buttonportion 67. The other end 73 of the finger portion 69 is adapted toextend into the lamp receiving portion 12 and is located for movement inthe region or space between the spring contact 34 of the spring contactmember 26 and the leg portions 42 and 43 of the spring clip member 28.As shown in FIG. 3 the one end 72 of the finger portion 69, offset fromthe one end 70 of the button portion 67, forms a shoulder which isadapted to engage wall portion 61.

A spring 75 (FIG. 3) is received within the passage means 55 and isdisposed between the one end 70 of the button portion 67 and the bottomsurface '76 of the cross or base mounting portion 30 of the springcontact member 26, to bias the .ejector means 56 to a non-ejectingposition with the one end 72 of the linger portion 69 engaging the wallportion 61.

The receptacle 10 is particularly adapted for use with a fluorescentlamp where the end cap 22 has a metal ring 77 (shown in phantom lines inFIG. 3) on the periphery of the end cap 22 which forms one contact ofthe lamp. A rounded metal projection 78 is located on the end surface ofthe end cap and forms another contact of the lamp. When the lamp 23 isinserted in a lamp socket assembly having two lamp receptacles 10, eachend cap of the lamp is snap fittingly received between the end portions44 and 45 of the U-shaped spring clip member 28 of each receptacle 10.The end portions 44 and 45 provide an electrical connection to the metalring 77 of the end cap 22 received therebetween while the spring contact34 of the spring contact member 26 provides an electrical connection tothe rounded projection 78. To remove the lamp from the lamp receptacle10 one merely pushes the button portion 67 of the ejector means 56 intothe body portion 14. This will result in movement of the finger portion'69 into the lamp receptacle portion 12 between spring contact 34 andthe leg portions 42 and 43 whereby the second end 73 of the fingerportion 69 will engage the end cap 22 of the lamp 23 and force the lampout of the lamp receptacle 10.

In FIG. 4, a modified ejector means 56a is shown where the buttonportion 67a is provided with a ange portion 80 which extends from theone end 70a of the button portion 67a on the side of the button portion67a which is opposite the finger portion 69a. When positioned in passagemeans 55, the flange 80 extends toward the lamp receiving portion 12.Preferably, the outer end 81 of the ange y80 is closer to the one end70a of the button portion 67a than is the second end 73a of the fingerportion 69a so that, when the ejector means is operated, the ange 80will not prevent the finger portion from being pushed into the lampreceiving portion 12 to eject the end of a lamp in the lamp receivingportion 12 from the receptacle 10. The flange 80 and part of the fingerportion 69a form a guideway 82 for receiving and guiding spring 75a.When the ejector means 56a is operated by pushing the button portion 69ainto the passage means 55, the spring means 75a is compressed betweenthe one end 70a of the button portion and the bottom Surface 76 of thecross or base portion 30` while the guideway 82 inhibits and usuallyprevents buckling and possible jamming of the spring 75a within thepassage means 55.

It will thus be seen, by reference to the foregoing specification and tothe appended claims, that the present invention provides a novel ejectormeans for a lamp receptacle having a number of advantages andcharacteristics, including those pointed out herein and others which areinherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. A lamp receptacle for use in a lamp socket assembly adapted toreceive an elongated lamp, said receptacle including a terminal blockhaving a lamp receiving portion and a body portion which extends fromsaid lamp receiving portion to an end surface of the terminal block,said body portion having passage means therein extending from said endsurface to said lamp receiving portion, electrical contact means in saidlamp receiving portion for connecting one end of said elongated lamp toa source of electric energy, and ejector means received in said passagemeans for ejecting said elongated lamp from said receptacle in adirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated lamp,said ejector means including an elongated button portion having a firstend which is received in said passage means and a second end whichextends out of said body portion beyond said end surface, and a fingerportion having a first end connected to said first end of said buttonportion and a second end which is adapted to extend into said lampreceiving portion, said finger portion being offset from, and extendingalong, one side of said button portion, said electrical contact meansbeing secured within said lamp receiving portion in such a manner that aportion of said electrical contact means closes off a portion of saidpassage means thereby forming a partial closure for said passage means,said partial closure being adapted to limit movement of said fingerportion into said lamp receiving portion and to assist in retaining saidejector means in said passage means, a spring positioned within saidpassage means between said partial closure and said first end of saidbutton portion to bias said button portion toward said end surface, saidbutton portion having a flange portion on the side of said buttonportion opposite said finger portion, said flange portion extending fromsaid one end of said button portion toward said lamp receiving portion,the outer end of said flange portion being adapted to engage saidpartial closure to limit inward movement of said button portion intosaid passage means when said button portion is pushed into said passagemeans against said spring, and said fiange portion and said fingerportion forming a guideway for inhibiting buckling and possible jammingof said spring when said button portion is pushed into said passagemeans.

2. A lamp receptacle for use in a lamp socket assembly adapted toreceive an elongated lamp, said receptacle including a terminal blockhaving a lamp receiving portion and a body portion which extends fromsaid lamp receiving portion to an end surface of the terminal block,said body portion having passage means therein extending from said endsurface to said lamp receiving portion, electrical contact means in saidlamp receiving portion for connecting one end of said elongated lamp toa source of electric energy, and ejector means received in said passagemeans for ejecting said elongated lamp from said receptacle in adirection transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated lamp,said ejector means including an elongated button portion having a firstend 4which is received in said passage means and a second end whichextends out of said body portion beyond said end surface, and a fingerportion having a first end connected to said first end of said buttonportion and a second end which is adapted to extend into said lampreceiv- -ing portion, said electrical contact means including aninverted, T-shaped, spring contact member having a crossportion and agenerally upright portion connected to said cross-portion, saidcross-portion being secured within said lamp receiving portion over saidpassage means so as to form a partial closure for said passage means,and said partial closure being adapted to limit movement of said ejectormeans into said lamp receiving portion and to assist in retaining saidejector means within said body portion.

3. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said uprightportion extends from said cross-portion adjacent to the remaining openportion of said passage means, whereby, when said ejector means isoperated by pushing said button portion into said passage means, saidfinger portion will be moved into said lamp receiving portion along andadjacent to, but spaced from, said upright portion to engage an end cap,of said elongated lamp received in said receptacle, to eject said lampfrom said receptacle.

4. A lamp receptacle as Set forth in claim 2 wherein said electricalcontact means further includes a U-shaped, spring clip member having abight portion which is secured in said lamp receiving portion and twoleg portions which extend in the same general direction as said uprightportion of said spring contact member, said bight portion being spacedfrom, and generally parallel to, said cross-portion of said springcontact member with the open portion of said passage means beingdisposed between said bight portion and said cross-portion, said legportions being biased toward each other to provide resilient lampcontact and holding means adapted to snap fittingly receive and retainan end cap of said elongated lamp and said end cap is easily forced outof engagement with said leg portions by pushing said button portion intosaid passage means to cause said finger portion to exy tend into saidlamp receiving portion to engage said end cap to force said lamp out ofsaid receptacle.

5. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said cross portioncloses off a portion of said passage means, said finger portion isoffset from said button portion whereby said one end of said ngerportion forms a shoulder on said ejector means, a stop means is providedin said passage means for engaging said shoulder to limit movement ofsaid ejector means in said passage means and a spring is disposedbetween said one end of said button portion and said cross portion tobias said button portion out of said body portion with said shoulderengaging said stop means.

6. A lamp receptacle for use in a lamp socket assembly adapted toreleasably receive an elongated lamp, said receptacle including aterminal block having a lamp receiving portion and a body portion whichextends from said lamp receiving portion to one end surface of saidterminal block, said body portion having passage means therein extendingfrom said end surface to said lamp receiving portion, said lampreceiving portion having electrical Contact means therein for connectingone end of said elongated lamp to a source of electric energy, andejector means received in said passage means for ejecting said elongatedlamp from said receptacle in a direction transverse to the longitudinalaxis of said elongated lamp, said ejector means including an elongatedejector member having an elongated button portion and an elongatedfinger portion, said button portion having a first end which is receivedin said passage means and a second end which extends out of said bodyportion beyond said end surface, and said finger portion being laterallyoffset from said button portion such that the longitudinal axis of saidfinger portion is offset from the longitudinal axis of said buttonportion, and having a first end connected to said first end of saidbutton portion and a second end which is adapted to extend into saidlamp receiving portion, first stop means at the end of said passagemeans opening onto said end surface for engaging said first end of saidfinger portion to limit outward movement of said button portion beyondsaid end surface, second stop means at the end of said passage meansopening into said lamp receiving portion for stopping movement of saidfirst end of said button portion toward said lamp receiving portion tolimit movement of said finger portion into said lamp receiving portion,and spring means positioned within said passage means between saidsecond stop means and said first end of said button portion for biasingsaid ejector member to a non-ejecting position.

7. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body portionof said terminal block has an elongated recess therein opening along itslength into, and forming part of, said passage means, said recessextending from a first end, which opens into said lamp receivingportion, to a closed second end `which is spaced from said end surface,said recess being adapted to receive said finger portion of said ejectormeans.

8. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 7 `wherein a Wall portion isdefined by and between said end surface of said body portion and saidclosed end of said recess, said wall portion forming said first stopmeans for limiting the distance which said button portion can extendbeyond said end surface and for assisting in retaining said ejectormember in said passage means.

9. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 6 wherein a portion of saidelectrical contact means closes off a portion of said passage meansthereby forming said second stop means for limiting movement of saidfinger portion into said lamp receiving portion and for assisting inretaining said ejector member in said passage means.

10. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said buttonportion has a flange portion on the side of said button portion oppositesaid `finger portion, said flange portion extending from said one end ofsaid button portion toward said lamp receiving portion, the outer end ofsaid flange portion being adapted to engage said second stop means tolimit inward movement of said button portion into said passage meanswhen said button portion is pushed into said passage means against saidspring means, and said flange portion and said finger portion form aguideway for inhibiting buckling and passible jamming of said springmeans when said button portion is pushed into said passage means.

11. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said electricalcontact means includes an inverted, T- shaped, spring contact memberhaving a cross-portion and a generally upright portion connected to saidcrossportion, said cross-portion being secured within said lampreceiving portion over said passage means to form a partial closure ofsaid passage means, said partial closure defining said second stopmeans.

12. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said uprightportion extends from said cross-portion adjacent to the remaining openportion of said passage means, Iwhereby, when said ejector means isoperated by pushing 8 said button portion into said passage means, saidnger portion will be moved into said lamp receiving portion along andadjacent to, but spaced from, sad upright portion to engage to end cap,of said elongated lamp received in said receptacle, to eject said lampfrom said receptacle.

13. A lamp receptacle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said electricalcontact means further includes a U-shaped,

spring clip member having a bight portion which is secured in said lampreceiving portion and two leg portions which extend in the same generaldirection as said upright portion of said spring contact member, saidbight portion being spaced from, and generally parallel to, said crossportion of said spring contact member with the open portion of saidpassage means being disposed between said bight portion and said crossportion, said leg portions being biased toward each other to provideresilient lamp contact and holding means adapted to snap littinglyreceive and retain an end cap of said elongated lamp and said end cap iseasily forced out of engagement with said leg portions by pushing saidbutton portion into said passage means to cause said finger portion toextend into said lamp receiving portion to engage said end cap to forcesaid lamp out of said receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,609,244 11/1926 Goodyer et al.221-276X 2,228,646 1/1941 Summers 339-45 (T) 2,910,554 10/1959 Lesslerv339-45(T)X 3,079,490 2/1963 Barbieri 339-45 (T)X OTHER REFERENCES GarcyCatalog 39; Garcy Reectors, Division of Garden City Plating and Mfg.Co., Inc.; Chicago, Ill. p. 2, figure entitled Ejector Feature, 1939.

STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, Primary Examiner T. P. LEWIS, Assistant ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R.

